Here it is: The Magic Formula To Novel Writing…
Even while I still worked away on my first novel, the comments and questions began…
“I’ve always wanted to write a book…but I just don’t know how to get started…”
“I have so many ideas for stories…how do you actually do it?”
“I really want to write a book and I have great ideas, but I can never find time…
“How did you do it?”
“Just tell me how to get going and I’ll do it!”
Here it is…ready? Drumroll please…
The magic formula for writing a novel is, Step One, start. That sounds so very simple, but I guarantee it’s the biggest stumbling block that stands between wannabes and those that succeed. Just do it! There’s more to that little phrase than the Nike commercial, but there’s a reason their million dollar advertising executives chose it – it’s short, to the point and nothing says it better. The second step is, finish it!
Key to that first step is, of course, it is fairly crucial that you have an idea (duh!) – and a game plan. But then, you wouldn’t start many trips without a destination and you won’t start your book without a story, at least one would hope. If you think you can start without an idea, you might want to hang onto your day job! Some authors develop and advocate detailed outlines prior to starting while some just use basic ideas – even words laid out like maps. There isn’t a right answer because we all process differently and think in our own way. I assure you, you don’t want to know what goes on between my ears – but even for me, the challenges of organizing were secondary to the biggest challenge of all: starting. And once I started…it took off like wild fire.
Interestingly, I began writing with just an idea then planned later when the need arose for more specific direction. I did not do a detailed outline – but I did buy a medium sized dry erase board which helped me shape the direction of the story as it formed. I ended up buying a bigger one and eventually my office looked like a command center with these boards all over with what surely looked like word-schematics to anyone else…but it helped me tremendously as I went along. But again…this method and any other would have been moot had I not done the most important thing: start. I just did it. And the rest came.
I can hear it already….
“Yeah…of course you can just do it, Tammy…you’re retired and have time!”
Granted, I never found that time when I was on active duty, although I can now argue that I could have if I tried. I may be “retired” from the military but I didn’t retire from life! I care for my mom full time, take care of two households, work out religiously and actually have friends and family and stuff. Time seems to evaporate just as quickly as it did when I had to go somewhere else to spend it each day.
So, how do you find time? You have to make time, kind of like working out (or having kids); the time to do it and do it right won’t magically appear, you have to decide on a priority then make it one. Sadly, it may have to replace something you love to do, like watching Duck Dynasty, playing Candy Crush Saga (I still don’t really have a clue on that one), or sleeping. No kidding – sometimes sleep is the only thing you have left to sacrifice and if something is that important to you, you’ll stay up later or get up earlier. Make a schedule and honor it as if your life depended on it. I’ve invested in gallons of midnight oil over the years and suspect there’s more coming. You make time or you don’t do it. That’s not harsh, it’s just reality.
Many, many, many extraordinarily talented and well-meaning people “get” that first step and have actually tackled it with one great running leap or attempted with multiple jumps – but never get there. And while their efforts are admirable, in some cases with genius initial results, their problem is the omission of Step Two: Finish!
Before typing the first word of my novel, I read an article by an author and writing teacher named Raymond Obstfeld. It was extremely helpful to me about how to make my way through writing a book – but his main point and one I took deeply to heart was the fact that the book is not a book if you don’t finish. He eloquently pointed out that he has had some extraordinarily gifted students and some that were just satisfactory…and that their abilities had way less to do with their success as published authors than a more critical factor. He said the difference between who became published and who did not often boiled down to something more basic than talent: the prize went to he/she who finished.
At about the same time I read Raymond Obstfeld’s wise words, I found a great idea from yet another successful writer – I wish I could remember who it was because I adopted his own act of keeping himself moving. Like him, I made a sign, framed it and placed on my wall over my desk – and the sign says, “You must write. You must finish what you write.” Some days it’s the one thing that gets me in front of the computer.
Obviously I haven’t maximized the use of this magic formula or I would have already completed my second novel. How do I know that? Because when I do use the formula – just do it, make the time and focus…I finish. There is no trick to the equation, like math, it just works whether you understand it or not.
So. What are you waiting for?
